John Schettler - Grand Alliance

“We’ll have new reserves very soon.” Paulus tried to encourage him. “The 90th Light is already arriving at Tripoli and will be heading east to join you. There will be more troops coming soon. A few weeks ago OKW moved 1st Mountain Division and the Grossdeutschland Regiment from Spain to Italy. They were the troops that broke the Rock of Gibraltar. I thought they were heading for the new front along the southern border near Ukraine, but I was wrong. They are coming here, and another Panzer division is being assigned to your Korps as well.”

“Another Panzer Division? I can certainly use it, but we can barely support the two mobile divisions I already have. Add the 90th Light and we’ll be lucky to get water to the men, let alone fuel and ammunition!”

“The supply situation is at the top of my list,” said Paulus. “That and the trucks to move it. You are correct in what you say concerning Benghazi. Tripoli is the only port we can rely on in the short run, but we are speaking with the Vichy French about Tunis and Bizerte.”

“Tunis? It’s 1400 kilometers from here to there!”

“Yes, but there’s a decent rail line from Tunis south-almost all the way to Mareth. That will cut the distance to a thousand kilometers. It’s farther than that from here to Alexandria. You didn’t seem to think that was a problem when you started east, did you?”

“Believe it or not, Paulus, I have learned a few things about operations in this desert in the last few weeks. It was going to be difficult to extend real force to the Nile even without the appearance of these new reinforcements for the British. Two divisions will simply not be enough. Five might do, but the British would match them in time, and supplying them that far east would be a nightmare. No. What we must do now is fight the British on ground of our own choosing, and beat them-decisively. We can only advance east again if we have that victory in hand, and destroy the British Army here… Before they destroy us!”

“You are beginning to see things clearly now my friend,” said Paulus. “No more joy riding with inadequate force, and even less gasoline. You may have had trouble with Streich, but I’ve read his reports, and he was often correct. Logistics, Rommel, that is the key. I will advocate that we press the Vichy French hard for immediate use of Tunis and Bizerte. It is only 500 kilometers to good ports in eastern Sicily, or to Naples from Tunis, and only three hundred kilometers if we can use Palermo. A supply convoy can make that in one overnight trip, unload by day, and be ready to sail back again the following night. From there we use the rail line to Mareth, and begin extending it east as well. Engineers, Rommel. Trucks, quartermasters and good engineers! That is what we need now as much as another battalion of tanks. Your force will soon see a dramatic buildup in strength and material. And with this scaled up supply strategy, we will sustain these new divisions. It will take time, and the shortage of transport is the main problem, but between the French and OKW, we will get you the trucks you need. My only question now is this-what do we do here? A drive east again is out of the question.”

“For the moment,” said Rommel. “And if these new tanks are delivered to the British in numbers, it will be out of the question entirely.”

“Exactly how large was this new British force?”

Rommel gave him a grim smile. “Large enough,” he said dejectedly. “I saw no more than ten or fifteen of these new tanks, but they had at least two mechanized infantry battalions in support. It could have been no more than a brigade, but it hit like a sledge hammer! They were enough to smash right through that Pakfront and nearly decimate my infantry. I had 2nd and 8th Machine gun battalions in good defensive ground. It was a hasty defense, but the men were in position when the attack came. The British also have an new infantry carrier-fast, and with a decent gun. It sounded like a Bofors. In fact, I thought they were tanks until I saw the infantry deploy. They put accurate suppressive artillery fire on us, moved up like lightning with these new vehicles, and shot the position to pieces. The infantry only deployed to mop up, because by that time our men had had enough, I ordered the retreat soon after, and if the Fuhrer wants me to stop and defend this useless desert in Cyrenaica, he’s a fool. Until we find a way to stop these tanks there will be no more good news from North Africa.”

Paulus nodded. “And no more medals for Herr Rommel. Well, don’t fret about it. This is merely a setback.”

“Don’t put such sweet icing on the cake,” said Rommel. “I can do that with my letters home to Lucie, but we were soundly beaten, and for the first time in this war. If I had left my divisions in place they would have been destroyed. Casualties were heavy, and I will be lucky to have material for one good division between both 5th Light and 15th Panzer. We left the rest in the desert south of Bir el Khamsa. That’s what they’re calling it now-the Battle of Bir el Khamsa. I suppose I will have to live with it, our first major defeat.”

Paulus folded his arms. “You thought we would win every battle, did you? That seldom happens in war, Rommel. A good defeat can actually be healthy for an army, as long as morale is strong and the officers and men learn from the loss they suffered. I will speak with the Fuhrer and get him to understand why Mersa Brega is the best defensive line now, but learn a good lesson from this. You will have to re-think your tactics here. We were masters of maneuver warfare, but this new enemy armor has changed the whole balance. You may have to rely on defensive tactics until we can better assess this situation. This position at Mersa Brega looks strong. Dig in, Rommel. No more dashing off on the southern flank. Dig in behind mines and wire, and site your artillery well. I don’t care how thick the armor is on these new British tanks. They won’t like a hit from a 150mm HE round. The concussion alone will knock the men senseless.”

“True, if they hit anything. They are not the most accurate weapons, Paulus, as you well know.”

“I understand, but you will have to use saturation fires at the point of the enemy attack. I’ll see about getting you some good heavy nebelwerfers. We have rocket munitions too. Pre-register your guns! Think like an infantry division commander now. Infantrie Greift! Did you not write such a book? You cannot resort to blitzkrieg tactics with your tanks now.”

“At least not against those heavy tanks I saw. We might be able to hurt their infantry carriers.”

“Yes? Well, if the 88s cannot stop their heavy tanks, then use your artillery and infantry. Scissors, paper and rock, my friend. In war there are always alternatives. You cannot use the sharp, cutting scissors in your Panzer Divisions against this new British rock, so use paper-Infantry! I will see about getting better air support from Goering, which reminds me, he has also offered to send his brigade to bolster your forces here. It’s in Italy as well.”

“The Goering Brigade? Good. Tell the fat oaf to come along as well, and I’ll put him right on the front line. The British will take one look at him and run the other way!”

Paulus smiled. “You are too hard on the man. That brigade has some tough men in it, good equipment, and we will need Goering’s cooperation to make certain you get the air support. With his own brigade here, I can assure you he will be more than willing to send the Stukas our way. There is your answer to these new British tanks-500 pound bombs and good artillery, minefields in well prepared defensive positions. Mersa Brega is a narrow place. Dig in there, and if they try to push through, we’ll see how things go this time. As for the supplies, I will get you everything I possibly can.”